Such a wonderful phenomenon in nature can be observed mainly during sunset. It's not just that this flower is often called the "Queen of the Night". It opens its petals just at this time.
You can learn about the perennial evening primrose, planting and caring for it by reading the article below. Here you can also learn about the most common types of this wonderful plant and its beneficial properties and applications.
General information
Oenothera in the common people is also called the night violet. An amazingly beautiful flower in just a few minutes can turn from a blue-green bush into a bright lemon bunch of flowers.
Flower growers today prefer to plant perennial plant species with yellow flowers, which include quadrangular and shrubby evening primrose. They are quite unpretentious and tolerate cold well. These plants are photophilous, but they adapt well in partial shade.
General Description
Enotera is a perennial flower belonging to the fireweed family. The fragrant flowers of the plant are quite large, which are pale pink, brightyellow, white and even blue. Most often there are yellow ones. Most of the evening primrose varieties bloom at night, but there are also those that bloom during the day. In cloudy weather and in cool weather, the flowers open for the whole day. Their lifespan is very short - just one night. Then the flowers wither, but fresh inflorescences appear in their place, thanks to which the plant blooms for almost the entire summer.
Varieties of evening primrose
Basically, evening primrose species are perennial. But among the common species there are both annuals and biennials.
- Enotera biennial is one of the most widespread in culture. The plant is tall (about 2 meters) with bright lemon flowers that have a surprisingly delicate aroma, especially intensifying in the evening.
- Missourian evening primrose is a low-growing showy plant up to 40 cm high. Large fragrant cup-shaped flowers have a golden yellow color.
- Enotera fragrant - a mountain plant that emits a strong aroma. Blooms with yellow flowers.
- Enotera shrubby perennial is a winter-hardy plant, which is a tall bush (up to 90 cm) with strong, well-branched stems and small dark green leaves, which turn into crimson with the advent of autumn, which is also a kind of decoration of the bush and is great looks. The bright yellow flowers of this species are not very large (3 cm in diameter).
- Enotera quadrangular - perennial, winter-hardy. An upright bush grows up to 70 cm in height. The oval-shaped bluish-green leaves turn reddish in autumn. The flowering of this species is long (from June to August) with yellow inflorescences in bunches that have a pleasant aroma.
- Large-flowered - one of the most common species. Bright yellow perennial evening primrose reaches a height of 2 meters. The flowers are large, with a delicate aroma, especially noticeable in the evening.
- Enotera stemless is absent in the flora of Russia, but this perennial gets along well in these conditions.
- Enoters Drummond and Pale are seasonal annuals.
- Enotera Beautiful has wonderful pink and fragrant flowers. She hails from South America. In the culture of Russia, unfortunately, it is rare, as it is not entirely resistant to climate conditions. This pink perennial evening primrose is quite spectacular and beautiful.
Popular varieties:
- Sonnenwende - golden yellow inflorescences, dark green leaves, height - 60 cm.
- Fryverkeri - yellow golden inflorescences, red stems and buds, height - 40 cm.
- Hohes Licht - canary-yellow beautiful inflorescences, height - 60 cm.
- "Evening dawn" - with a red tint, golden flowers, pleasant aroma, height about 100 cm.
Growing conditions
Enotera is a plant that loves the sun, although it can grow well in a place slightly shaded by trees. Practicallyall its species are drought-resistant.
If you provide a plant with loose, fertilized soil and an abundance of light, it will delight the eye with beautiful flowers for quite a long time. It should only be remembered that the soil must be well-drained, and stagnant moisture is detrimental to its roots.
The evening primrose is undemanding to the soil. It is advisable for her to pick up sandy light soil with acidity ranging from 5.5 to 7. Planting in loamy loosened soil is the best choice for perennial evening primrose.
Autumn planting
To grow such a plant in the garden, it is best to plant seeds in the fall. The gap between plants should be between 10-100 cm (depending on the variety).
Enotera planted indoors for breeding seedlings requires maintaining an air temperature of about 21 degrees. It should be planted about 9 weeks before the expected frost. Sown seeds should be lightly covered with soil. The first shoots usually appear in about 1-4 weeks, depending on the variety. Ready seedlings should be taken out after frost. It is necessary to dig a hole and plant several sprouts in it to the same depth from which they ascended into the containers. You can also plant them in separate recesses, keeping the distance between them.
Before planting, be sure to clean the surface of the soil from weeds, otherwise they will interfere with the normal development of evening primrose.
In the reviews, experienced flower growers are advised to take into account that adult plants will occupy an area equal to 1 sq. meter.
Rules of care
Excess moisture can lead to root rot and subsequent death of the plant. In this regard, the ground near the bushes must be systematically loosened, and the weeds around must be removed. Evening primrose should be watered only during hot and dry periods.
The flower can overwinter without shelter. With proper care, evening primrose does not get sick for many years.
It is also important to note that the plant will look compact and neat if its lateral shoots are shortened by half. From this procedure, the plant looks neat, and the number of buds tied up also increases.
Irrigation and fertilization
Newly planted annuals in summer should be watered weekly until fully established. Older plants are watered only in dry weather.
Feeding from time to time favors the growth and strengthening of the plant. Foliar feeding with cow dung should be done in the spring, and a little fertilizer can be added during planting.
Before planting perennial evening primrose in the soil, do the following: per 1 sq. meter plot, add 2 tablespoons of potassium-nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers and about 3 kg of humus, then loosen the soil to a depth of 18 cm and water well.
Reproduction
These plants propagate both by seeds and self-sowing, and by dividing the bush. Evening primrose also reproduces by young stepsons, which grow in considerable numbers near the mother bush.
It should be remembered that when planting seeds, flowering begins only in the 2nd year of growth, therefore, to obtainbushes that bloom already in the first year, you need to sow seeds for seedlings (late February-early March), which are planted in the ground in May. The distance between the shoots should be about 60-70 cm.
For propagation by division of processes, this event is best done in warm regions in the fall, and in cooler regions in the spring.
If you do not collect the seeds at the end of September, then the seeds spilled out of the boxes can be carried by ants to different places from the mother plant. Therefore, in the spring, evening primrose sprouts may appear in the most inappropriate corner of the garden plot. To avoid self-seeding, which leads to the death of neighboring flowers, flower growers are advised to regularly remove wilted flowers.
Vegetative propagation of evening primrose is the simplest and most convenient way. Bushes can be divided in May or autumn. Delenki are transplanted to a pre-planned place. Reviews of flower growers say that evening primrose tolerates this method of reproduction well, even when flowering.
Using the healing properties of the plant
In addition to beauty, the flower is also famous for its healing properties. The healing properties of evening primrose have been known since ancient times. And in ancient times, healers used root decoctions in the treatment of stomach diseases, and infusions were used to quickly heal wounds.
It is known that the Indians used evening primrose in food. Its roots, leaves and flowers are edible. Especially useful is the root of the plant, rich in starch and minerals.
Decoctions from the roots are now used in folk medicine in the treatment of bruisesand wounds (washed), and decoctions made from flowers and leaves - in the treatment of stomach disorders. Essential oils are also produced from evening primrose. Evening primrose has been widely used in alternative medicine due to its anti-inflammatory and tonic properties.
And modern cosmetology appreciated evening primrose. It is used in the manufacture of skin care products from seed oil and leaf extract. Seed oil has a great effect on skin regeneration and metabolism. It is also useful in nail care. This is noted in many reviews.
The only contraindication to the use of a healing agent is individual intolerance to any components that are part of evening primrose.
Enotera in landscape design and reviews about it
Enoteru in landscape design is used for different purposes. Tall varieties of perennials can be used in the following cases:
- plant them in the center of a round multi-level flower garden;
- evening primroses are good when decorating the top of a triangular flower bed in the background;
- looks great at decorative arches, at the walls of arbors and fences.
Short perennial evening primroses wonderfully decorate garden paths and flowerbed foregrounds. On the alpine hills, these varieties look picturesque among various decorative elements: stones, jugs, logs.
Also, reviews of gardeners recommend paying attention to this plant if the most shady corner of the garden is empty. This charming night beauty in such a place will delight with its bright flowers.even during the daytime, and will generously endow the garden plot with the most delicate pleasant aroma.
In recent years, many flower growers are increasingly decorating their home gardens with evening primroses, and reviews about them are mostly positive. Blooming plants, fragrant with a delicate aroma, transforming flower beds and alpine slides, bring special joy. Flowers do not grow much and do not take up much space. This is especially true of the Missouri evening primrose, whose lashes are no longer than 70 cm. The unusualness of the flower also attracts - they bloom right before our eyes: petals gradually open one after another from a closed bud until the miracle opens completely.
